Which Protein Powder Is Best For Baking? 4 Types Compared

Supplements Considered 35
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Hours of Research 200
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Reviews Examined 65
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James Cunningham, BSc, CPT
Published by James Cunningham, BSc, CPT | Staff Writer & Senior Coach
Last updated: December 19, 2023
We personally test every product featured in our reviews and guides. By ordering products anonymously and getting a group of independent testers, we are able to get first-hand experience and provide data-driven recommendations. Learn more.

Baking with protein-rich ingredients is a nutritious way to enjoy sweet treats, helping with muscle building, fat loss, and weight management.

Using protein powder in baking is an effective method to reduce carbs and create delicious, healthy snacks for fitness enthusiasts. In my own baking experiments, I've found that protein-enriched snacks are not only tasty but also support my workout goals.

Following 200 hours of research and evaluating 35 supplements, I've gathered key insights on the best protein powders for baking.

Quick Summary

  • For healthier, protein-rich baked goods, incorporating protein powder into recipes enhances nutritional value while maintaining taste and texture.
  • The general rule for baking with protein powder is to use 1/3 cup of powder for every cup of flour to avoid a rubbery and dry texture.
  • Mixing 30% of whey protein drastically changes the baking texture.
  • In my opinion, exploring different types of protein powder in baking is a culinary adventure that can lead to delicious and nutritious discoveries.

How Does Protein Powder Affect Baking?

Scoop of Chocoklet Protein

The first thing to remember when baking with protein powders is to avoid using too much.

Protein powder should supplement, not completely replace flour, to avoid rubbery and dry baked goods.

For modifying recipes, use 1/3 cup of protein powder for every cup of flour. Protein powder is concentrated and may contain stimulants, leading to potential side effects.

Offset dryness by adding moist ingredients like nuts or bananas, but be mindful of their fat content.

Let's further detail below how specific protein powders affect a recipe.

My Test Subject: Banana Bread

Banana and Banana Bread

The best way to try out something new in the kitchen is to experiment with healthy recipes that you can already do really well.

This allows you to account for any slight variance and gauge the effect the modifications are having.

I make vegan banana bread as it's easy, low-fat, healthy, delicious, and suitable for friends who avoid dairy.

Obviously, the whey variant below is not vegan, but the basic recipe is as follows.

Ingredients

  • 3 or 4 medium-sized overripe bananas (the more brown spots, the better)
  • 1 cup of all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup of whole wheat flour
  • 1/3 cup of your selected protein powders
  • 1/3 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup of organic brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup of canola oil (or whichever oil you like best)
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon of salt

Optional: tasty, crunchy bits like cacao nibs, walnuts, desiccated coconut, or chocolate chips.

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Lightly oil a bread pan and put in some parchment so that the edges just poke out over the top of each side.
  3. Peel and mash the banana in a bowl.
  4. Add the sugar, oil, and vanilla, and mix well.
  5. Add the flour, then the baking soda, cinnamon, and salt on top.
  6. Stir but do not overmix the batter. Consistency should be thick.
  7. (Optional) fold in any crunchy cravings like your cacao nibs or walnuts.
  8. Spoon your batter into your bread pan and then smooth out the top with the back of the spoon.
  9. Bake for 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes back out clean.
  10. Remove from oven and leave to cool for at least 15 minutes before taking it out of its pan.
  11. Slice, serve, enjoy.

Test #1: Whey Protein Powder

Scoop of Whey Protein

So, the whey protein powder was a weird one. Overall, it came out very well, but its consistency varied from when it was still warm to when it had cooled.

It had a fantastic texture to it when fresh out of the oven, it was really cakey with a lovely taste and aroma. It became very rubbery though when given the time to cool down.

It also had the least color out of the four and didn't rise quite as well as they did.

  • Appearance: Light color and a little flat in the middle
  • Texture: Moist only while warm, dried out after cooling
  • Taste: Consistent, barely noticeable impact on the original recipes
  • Smell: Good aroma

I've read online that whey protein powder is excellent for replacing flour, and it's undoubtedly the most popular.

This might have been a bad recipe to try it out with, or perhaps there was some error on my part, but for this test, at least, it was a little lacking.

Test #2: Pea Protein Powder

Spoon of Pea Protein and Peace

Next up was the pea protein powder, which I have to admit, I had some doubts about going in.

This is mostly due to the idea of a pea and banana combo being a little off-putting. The banana bread itself though, was fantastic, it had the evenest consistency of all four with the fewest holes and a lovely dense and moist texture.

It looked a little darker than the other loaves of bread. It also had an earthy note to its flavor that was impossible not to notice.

  • Appearance: Dark in color with beautiful, even consistency
  • Texture: Dense but moist, lovely both cooled and still warm
  • Taste: Has an earthy flavor that is not unpleasant but definitely noticeable
  • Smell: Good aroma but again a hint of the organic

Overall, I was both surprised and delighted by the pea protein banana bread. While the combo may sound a little odd, the texture was definitely the best of the four.

The taste was affected but not necessarily in the wrong way. I think pea protein would make for some fantastic brownies and will be trying it again in the future.

Test #3: Soy Protein Powder

Spoon of Soy Protein Powder

The soy protein was the one I expected to come out the best; it's the protein that I've heard a lot of people bake with time after time.

However, I must have missed one important piece of information before going into my little experiment. The soy banana bread was incredibly sweet, far sweeter than the other three breads.

I probably could have dropped the vanilla or some of the sugar from the ingredients and been fine.

  • Appearance: Beautiful almost perfect golden brown
  • Texture: Perfectly moist and lovely both cool and warm
  • Taste: A lot sweeter than the other pieces of bread, not unbearably so, but definitely noticeable
  • Smell: Good aroma but again you smell the sweetness on it

I will use soy again, choosing to cut some of the sugar from the ingredients list when I do. Overall, it was a great replacement, and in terms of look and feel mirrors my old recipes perfectly.

The flavor is impacted due to how very sweet it is though, so in this test, it was a little disappointing.

Test #4: Hemp Protein Powder

Hemp Protein and Honey

Now, I must admit, I tweaked the ingredients for this one using the optional chia seeds listed above.

You can use nuts, chocolate chips, or anything else you fancy for a little more bite, but I foresaw the hemp having the most significant impact on the flavor and wanted to offset that.

Hemp protein has become a favorite of mine due to the fact it has a full branched-chain amino acid profile, so I wanted it to have a great flavor.

  • Appearance: Slightly darker texture but still golden brown
  • Texture: Wonderfully dense and moist
  • Taste: The furthest removed from the original recipes, with definite earthy tones but absolutely delicious with the chia seeds
  • Aroma: Good aroma, especially when warm

The hemp protein definitely made an impact on the tongue, and like the pea protein powder before, it gave the bread a slightly earthy and organic flavor.

With the added chia seeds, this bread was my personal favorite. Different from the original, but delicious. I’m going to try hemp, banana, and chia seed brownies or some hemp chocolate muffins next.

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FAQs

Can I Use Flavored Protein Powder in Baking?

Yes, you can use flavored protein powder in baking, like chocolate, vanilla, or even more exotic flavors.

How Does Protein Powder Affect the Texture of Baked Goods?

Protein powder can affect the texture of baked goods by making them denser and sometimes drier. Using protein powder as a partial substitute for flour can result in a more compact and less fluffy texture.

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